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This Week in Princeton History for June 5-11
In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, Commencement is held without predicted problems, a senior praises William Howard Taft, and more. June 5, 1978—Princeton University’s Board of Trustees votes to include coverage for abortion under the student health insurance plan.
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This Week in Princeton History for February 20-26
In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, a Supreme Court justice visit ignites protest, the women’s squash team completes eight undefeated seasons, and more. February 21, 1920—Princeton University holds a special graduation ceremony for students who missed their own but have…
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Bob Dylan’s Honorary Princeton University Degree
When news of Bob Dylan being honored with a Nobel Prize in Literature broke a few months ago, the Swedish Academy responsible for the award acknowledged that it might appear to be an inappropriate choice. Dylan, as a musician, might not be thought of as an author so much as a composer. “If you look…
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This Week in Princeton History for July 25-31
In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, Presbyterians worry about drinking, the campus operator has a bit less to do, and more. July 27, 1937—William H. Smathers, who represents New Jersey in the U.S. Senate, writes a response to a letter from…
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This Week in Princeton History for June 1-7
In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, a sitting U.S. president gives the Commencement address, a judge tries to get information about damage to Nassau Hall, and more. June 2, 1851—Thomas Mifflin Hall, Class of 1853, celebrates his sixteenth birthday at…
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This Week in Princeton History for January 26-February 1
In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, an Oscar winner dies, the University holds a winter Commencement to send students off to war more quickly, and more. January 26, 1992—Jose Ferrer ’33 dies at the age of 80. Though best known…
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This Week in Princeton History for September 22-28
For last week’s installment in our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its students and alumni, click here. George Washington attends Commencement, Dr. Patch Adams speaks in McCosh 50, and more. September 23, 1946—A record-breaking 2,350 people attend the University’s bicentennial Convocation in the Chapel, with a sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury.…
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Princeton’s 250th Anniversary Commencement with speaker President Bill Clinton
On June 6th, 1996, as part of the University’s 250th Anniversary celebration, U.S. President Bill Clinton delivered the principal address at the 249th Commencement ceremonies, a departure from the Princeton tradition of having the University President deliver the ceremony’s major remarks. The video includes the entire commencement program starting with the procession (00:02), then the…
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Class of 1929 Commencement and a potpourri of student activities
While the traditions around Commencement have changed some over the University’s 267 year history, overall it is a remarkably consistent ceremony. Let’s take a look back to 1929. This video shows a number of scenes from a typical Commencement week. We begin with the procession of graduates led by the faculty. Following that, you see a…
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